Arsenal 'Agree Deal With Gabriel Jesus' Despite Last Ditch Real Madrid Efforts

Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus has agreed a deal to take the journey down the M1, according to football insider. 

The 25-year-old Brazilian international has been frequently linked with a move to the Gunners in the last few weeks, and Arsenal’s absence from the Champions League next season has done little to dissuade either party from getting a deal over the line.

Mikel Arteta knows the Man City no.9 well, having spent multiple seasons with him whilst under the football tutelage of Pep Guardiola, so will be fully aware of what the Brazilian can bring to an Arsenal forward severely lacking firepower. 

With former club captain Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang having left in January, and his successor Alexandre Lacazette announcing his departure at the end of his contract this summer, Arsenal are in desperate need of summer reinforcement up-front.

Hale End graduate Eddie Nketiah recently agreed to extend his contract (per the Athletic), however, going into the season with one recognised centre-forward is a non-starter, making the intense pursuit of former Palmeiras man a logical move. 

Eddie Nketiah is set to remain at Arsenal next season (Alamy)

Despite the lack of consistent game-time whilst at the Etihad, Jesus’ underlying numbers are impressive, averaging a goal/assist every 103 minutes in his Premier League career. These numbers are despite his use as deputy forward and rotational winger in a Manchester City career spent competing with football’s elite offensive players.

The Arsenal board have made a conscious effort to cull the wage bill since Arteta’s reign began, and want to make sure they don’t make the mistake of dishing out bumper contracts to ageing players again, as they did with Mesut Ozil and Aubameyang.  

However, the Gunners have reportedly offered a lucrative wage rise to the Brazilian, who is about to enter the prime of his career. An expense the Spaniard and those behind the scene at the Emirates believe is worth incurring.

At 25-years-old, his best years are ahead of him, and Arteta is searching to add the live-wire forward to an attack already boasting the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, as those in red and white take the next step on their journey, the hunt for Champions League football.